roamfree

You are currently browsing articles tagged roamfree.

Roamfree Placed in Voluntary Administration

25 August, 2009 by Martin Kelly | 1 comment

Roamfree founder Tony Smith

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that former online travel high-flyer Roamfree was placed into voluntary administration late yesterday after it failed to reach a debt-servicing agreement with its noteholders. Ferrier Hodgson's Tim Michael and Will Colwell have been appointed to take control of the company. The group's subsidiary trading companies, BookEasy Pty Ltd, Roamfree Pacific and majority-owned Tourism Technology, are not affected, the paper said. Roamfree, now run by Mark Frawley, has rarely been out of the news since it was founded by flamboyant entrepreneur Tony Smith, who reprised the 1980s by splashing cash around and buying an extraordinary range of companies in a short period of time. Smith left the company last year after his personal fortune collapsed under the weight of debt combined with the stockmarket crash.

Story at: http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/08/25/111495_gold-coast-business.html

Tags: Bookeasy, Ferrier Hodgson, roamfree, Tony Smith, tourism technology

TRAVELtech Top 25 – Journey Through The Oz Travel Web

18 August, 2009 by Martin Kelly | 1 comment

The past few months have been quite an experience, a long rambling journey through the Australian travel web. It’s been a roundabout route on my way to choosing the TRAVELtech Top 25 Australian Websites, from which TRAVELtech Website of The Year will emerge.

I have seen sites I didn’t know existed, and others that shouldn’t. In the end I had to choose 25. It wasn’t easy and I’m still not convinced. There are so many sites that could so easily have been there but aren’t.

Accommodation aggregation sites are by far the most competitive category. No coincidence that’s where the money is to be made. A ready supply of inventory through the massive online databases (ultimately) controlled by the likes of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia also helps. Popular sites such as www.lastminute.com.au, www.roamfree.com.au, www.quickbeds.com.au and others came so close to making the Top 25 it’s ridiculous. But, right or wrong, decisions had to be made. More …

Tags: drive now, expedia, flight centre, hitwise, oodles, orbitz, qantas, quickbeds, roamfree, travelocity, TRAVELtech Top 25 Australian Websites, TRAVELtech Web Awards, virgin blue

Events

'REAL TIME - Sydney, March 30'

When: March 30, 2012
Where: Amora Hotel Jamison
Program: Real Time
Bookings: $499 + gst Early Bird

BOOK now to get the Early Bird rate for the No Vacancy accommodation industry conference in Sydney.

Real Time is the theme of No Vacancy 2012, reflecting the fact that we live in a world where everything happens now, or not at all.

In no business is this more obvious than tourism. Booking lead times are now measured in hours not days or weeks.

To succeed requires a new way of doing business, a fresh mentality and a fair amount of nerve.

The program is packed with the information you'll need to thrive in today's just-in-time world with a focus on distribution, marketing, innovation, consumers and technology.

Speakers confirmed so far include the following, and there are a few more on the way...

Rachel Argaman, CEO, Toga Hospitality
Dave Audley, Heading of Consulting, Experian Hitwise
Quentin Briard, GM Australia & NZ, Club Med
Daniel Bridges, Head of Travel, Trade Me (NZ)
Julio Bruno, Global Vice President Sales, TripAdvisor
James Cassidy, HomeAway.com.au
Robbie Cooke, CEO, Wotif.com
Will Deague, CEO, Art Series Hotels
Dean Dransfield, Director, Dransfield Hotels and Resorts
Bob East, CEO, Mantra Resorts
Leah Lipman, Area Director Reveneue Management Australasia, IHG
Simon McGrath, CEO, Accor Australia
Bryon Merzeo, Analyst, STR Global
Bernard O’Keefe, Group Online Marketing Manager, Hamilton Island
Todd Parker, Founder, Parker Travel Collection
Nikolai Pitchforth, Head of Online Travel, Google
Brett Pointon, Founder, Oaks Hotels and Resorts
Anton Stanish, GM, The Stayz Group
Janet Wilson, Managing Director, Nationwide Hospitality

It'll be a great day. As usual, the focus will be on distribution, marketing, sales, innovation and technology for both hoteliers and Online Travel Agents.

Sponsors:

Program and Speakers
Bookings

Returning September 17, 2012

The date has been set for TRAVELtech 2012 - Monday, September 17.

Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who attended TRAVELtech: Best of Enemies in Sydney recently.

It was a fantastic event, lots of fun with a touch of controversy.

Please check out the photographs or use this link to see great 360 degree panorama shots of the conference from Panedia.

TRAVELtech is Australia's original web travel, marketing and distribution event, featuring a compelling program, great speakers and fantastic networking.

Program and Event Info